Raffi Hovannisian, the official runner-up in the February 18 presidential election, has formally appealed the outcome of the vote that gave victory to incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan.

Hovannisian’s aides filed the application on his behalf Monday evening.

A Heritage spokesperson said later that application to the Constitutional Court was just another step in the struggle to make the authorities recognize the election victory of Hovannisian. He said that it was a process parallel to public protests that the opposition candidate has staged since February 20.

Government officials hailed Hovannisian’s decision to seek a legal settlement of the dispute, at the same time expressing confidence that there are no grounds or conclusive evidence to question the outcome of the ballot.

The Constitutional Court is expected to consider the claim and issue a verdict within 10 days.